All the latest Giants news from MLB.com beat writer Chris Haft.

Schierholtz picks himself up

Monday, March 29PHOENIX — Don’t assume that Nate Schierholtz will easily give up in the Giants’ right field competition.

Schierholtz, whose status as the likely Opening Day right fielder was eroded by his inability to hit consistently, smacked an RBI triple and a double, drew a walk and scored three runs Monday in the Giants’ 8-6 exhibition victory over Milwaukee. “It was good for Nate to get a few knocks,” said bench coach Ron Wotus, who managed the final three innings after Bruce Bochy left to attend to a personal matter.

Schierholtz also played the entire game in right field, though that wasn’t tremendously significant.

Here’s what was significant: John Bowker, Schierholtz’s apparent chief rival for the job, kept hitting. Bowker hiked his team-leading totals to five home runs and 20 RBIs with a two-run homer in the fifth inning. He also doubled in the first, helping lift his batting average to .308. Schierholtz is at .241, but his superior defensive skill will continue to be a factor.

Bowker has a Minor League option remaining, but he could make the Opening Day roster if Fred Lewis’ ribcage injury lingers and forces him onto the disabled list.

*****

The afternoon’s most entertaining hitter, however, had to be Eugenio Velez.

Undaunted, Velez crushed the next pitch to straightaway right field for a legitimate home run. Everybody knows that Velez is capable of spectacular deeds. But this?

“You don’t see that often, do you?” Wotus said. “We were talking about it in the dugout. [Shawon] Dunston said usually when you do that, it takes the air out of you.”

Historical/personal notes: Ed Bailey followed a foul home run with a “real” homer on the next pitch in Game 162 of the 1962 season to open the Giants’ scoring in their 2-1 victory over Houston that put them in a three-game playoff with the Dodgers. Somewhere I have a collection of highlight tapes that includes Willie McCovey performing the foul-fair/back-to-back act in the mid-1960s (I have a feeling he did this more than once).

And I distinctly recall attending a Giants-Padres doubleheader at Candlestick in 1974 or ’75 when Randy Moffitt faced Bobby Tolan with the bases loaded. Tolan yanked one foul into the upper deck before clobbering Moffitt’s next pitch almost as far, and this time fair, for a grand slam en route to another Giants loss.

*****

To nobody’s surprise, center fielder Darren Ford won this year’s Harry S. Jordan Award in voting by his teammates, the coaches and the athletic training staff.

The award is given to the player in his first Major League camp whose performance and dedication best exemplifies the San Francisco Giants spirit. Past winners include Tim Lincecum (2007), Pedro Feliz (2001) and Russ Ortiz (1998).

Ford, 24, was San Francisco’s sensation of the spring, impressing all observers with his .500 batting average (10-for-20) and sprinter’s speed.

Reassigned to Minor League camp last Friday, Ford is likely to begin the season with Double-A Richmond.

— Chris Haft

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3 Comments

I remember listening to a Giant game in the early 1960s when Harvey Kuenn (who almost never swung at the first pitch and who only hit 87 HR in 15 seasons — 1 every 79+ at bats) swung at the first pitch and hit a foul home run in Milwaukee.

He hit the next pitch over the fence for a home run that counted.

I remember it because I commented that it would probably be a very high-scoring game.

Chris, after Bowker has hit over .300 in the spring, I just don’t see how he does not make the roster, especially with this team needing offensive support. I think Nate will start hitting again so that leaves a question of what to do with Fred Lewis. Maybe they can DL him until they can find a place to trade him.

I’m liking this team, and also the opportunity to go 70 miles to catch the Richmond Flying Squirrels (and the likes of Ford). Who else is key who will be in AA this year for the G, iants?

I really hope Schierholtz’s defense plays most of the innings in right field at PacBell Park (or whatever it’s called now), and I hope Bowker gets a chance…but where?

Huff’s signing screwed up a lot of things…without it, play DeRosa at 3rd and Pablo at 1st most days, Velez/Bowker/Lewis (dream on :-) in left, Rowand/Torres in center, Nate in right, Uribe/Renteria/DeRosa at short, Sanchez/Uribe/DeRosa at 2b, Molina (I can live with him batting 8th, not cleanup)/Posey at catcher.

But now, DeRosa complicates the outfield mix and Huff detracts from the defense.

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